Christina's heart raced as Reylan stood behind her, his warning stunning that she turned to look at him. His eyes blazed with a fire that made her shudder, but when he met her gaze, his expression softened into a small smile. Why in the world was he affecting her this way?!
The woman he had threatened was quick to apologize, her entire body trembling under the weight of his fierce words. As soon as Reylan released her hand, she and her companions bowed hastily and scurried out of the hall like frightened mice. Reylan then turned to face the crowd, his hand still firmly supporting Christina. With a casual air of authority, he declared, "Don't speak if you don't know the whole truth. Use that energy to earn more money for me!"
"Let's go," He said, guiding Christina toward the entrance. She exchanged a glance with Jessica, who looked just as surprised as she felt, and nodded to reassure her that she would be back soon.
As they exited, Blaze entered the scene. He clapped his hands together and announced, "Whoever commented on that thread, forget about your salary this month." The crowd erupted in protest, but he silenced them with a stern look. "What? Don't like it? Feel free to submit your resignation."
"And," He turned to a particular figure in the crowd and continued, "The owner of that thread, you don't need to resign. We're planning to kick you out anyway!" Derek's face turned pale, but he didn't dare argue. He could only glare at Christina's retreating figure and grit his teeth. This bitch will pay for it!
Once they were alone, Reylan asked Christina, "Did you eat anything?" She shook her head, and he signaled his assistant, who quickly left to fetch something.
In the elevator, Christina hoped Reylan would let go of her hand now that they were alone. But when he didn't, she gently pulled her hand away and murmured, "Thank you."
Reylan nodded in response. For some strange reason, he didn't want to let go of her hand. He wanted to hold her close and protect her, especially after last night's incident that increased his hopes that she might be the one. But it was too soon to start feeling this way about her. He cursed under his breath, frustrated by the sudden surge of emotions.
When they reached his office, Reylan gestured for Christina to sit on the couch. He went to get her some water, but his mini-fridge was filled only with cans. He sighed and called Blaze to bring something cold to drink.
When he sat in front of her, Christina spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper, "You shouldn't have stepped in. People would have forgotten about it in a few days." Gratitude was evident in her eyes, but it was also tinged with worry.
"I was just protecting my maybe future wife's reputation," Reylan replied with a smile. Admitting that he did it because he cared about her would be absurd since they barely knew each other.
Christina nodded with a smile, understanding his point. It was only reasonable to do it as she was still considering the offer. She had almost made up her mind but needed to talk to her mother before making such a big decision.
"I looked cool back there, didn't I?" Reylan asked with a playful glint in his eyes. His question sliced through her thoughts, and Christina chuckled.
"Very cool! You were just missing armor," She teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Reylan's smile lingered, a sense of nostalgia coursing through his body. Her radiant smile, full of life, stirred memories of the woman he had been waiting for centuries. It was oddly similar, and the last time he had seen it was centuries ago when she was on her deathbed.
"Did you leave early this morning?" Christina questioned, curiosity getting the better of her. Last night was still a puzzle to her, but she was more interested in his absence.
Reylan hummed in response, nodding as he added, "I was making up for the meeting I had missed." He was referring to the night she had called him. Vampire gatherings were not something he could afford to miss, especially when his grandfather's birthday was approaching, and he needed more allies.
---
[An hour later.]
"I will pick you up later," Reylan said, and Christina nodded with a smile before making her way to her workstation.
Albert, who had risen at the arrival of their CEO, watched in shock as Christina walked away and their boss exited the office. So the rumors were true! He had skipped lunch in the cafeteria, fearing questions from other teams. But who knew he would miss such a great show?
"I am sorry for being late," Christina apologized to Albert, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Late?" Albert's voice rose in surprise. Just when she thought he would scold her, he suddenly smiled at her. "Not at all, Tina! You are just on time." His words made her frown, and the other team members shook their heads in disapproval. He was the real snake in their team!
"I-I will send the modified presentation quickly," Christina stammered, returning to her desk.
"No, worries! Take your time." Albert's comment made her roll her eyes, and she nodded with a forced smile.
"What's so great about being his girlfriend? Everyone here knows how he would toss her away when he gets bored." A woman grumbled from the opposite row. Many had concluded that Christina had seduced their boss, and knowing his nature, he decided to play along for a few weeks. But little did they know he wasn't planning to let her go this lifetime!
Christina ignored the comment and focused on her screen. Sensing Jessica's gaze, she met her eyes and mouthed, "I will explain it to you later." Since Jessica was the only person who cared about her on this team, Christina felt she owed her an explanation, even if it was filled with lies.
Jessica nodded with a small smile. Though she knew Christina wasn't impulsive, she still hoped the rumors weren't true. The poor human would only be more heartbroken if she fell for their vampire boss.
---
As the sun set after another stressful day, Christina stretched her arms. Jessica, who had heard about her situation during their break, couldn't help but worry.
"I know I shouldn't interfere in your choices, but please be careful Tina." She said, squeezing Christina's hand.
Christina nodded with a smile. "Don't worry. It's still too early to feel anything, and I will be cautious around him," She replied, placing a comforting hand over Jessica's. "Now, let's leave, shall we?"
Jessica nodded, and they packed their things and walked toward the lift.
"Are you sure? I can wait until he is here," Jessica asked as they stood in front of their company, her husband waiting in the car nearby.
"No, you should leave. He might be here soon since he texted he was leaving too," Christina replied with a smile, and Jessica nodded before leaving.
Waving at her, Christina opened her text box again, a smile tugging at her lips as she read Reylan's reply. A black SUV slowly pulled up in front of her, and her heart fluttered with anticipation, thinking it was him. But when two bouncers emerged from the vehicle, her smile faded, replaced by a frown.
"Wh-who are you?" Christina's voice quivered, fear seeping into her words. She took a hesitant step back, but before she could make a run for it, the bouncers swiftly seized her arms, their intentions chillingly clear.
Her phone slipped from her fingers, clattering onto the pavement as they roughly pushed her into the car. As she squirmed inside, Reylan's ID flashed on the shattered screen, his call echoing in the desolate silence, unanswered as the car sped away into the night.